Which neighbor are you?

I was walking the same path I do every day. Seeing the same faces and passing by the same houses, “Morning-o.”  With my bible in hand, dirt on my feet and sweat on my brow I was feeling like a real missionary that morning. That is until my pride got the best of me.

A girl that I pass by every morning walked with us to draw water. She looked at Boakai and said,
“This is the white woman I see every day with her bible, but she never stops to teach us anything.”

Oh man! Talk about conviction!

I want to be known as so much more than the white woman who just carries her bible around.

Isn’t this what so many of us Christians do? 

Walk around, bible in hand, head down just ready to get to what our calling is? 

I wake up every morning knowing my next destination is Mother Blessings. But is it the only destination? Of course not.

Luke 10:25-37

There was a man who bumped into some robbers, they stripped him, beat him and then left him there to die.

A priest saw him and passed by on the other side.

A Levite saw him and passed by on the other side.

These two guys didn’t just look, stop, feel bad and then keep going on the same road. No. It says that they passed by completely on the other side, avoiding the dying man all together.

Because of course, they both had somewhere else to be.

Then there was a Samaritan. Someone you would never find helping a Jew, but he saw him and had compassion. Fixed his wounds, put him on his animal and paid for two days at an inn for him to recover.

He even said if they spend more than just two days worth, he would come back with the balance.

I’m sure the Samaritan man had somewhere to be, maybe he was headed to an orphanage home too, but God wanted him somewhere else that day.

Now, I’m sure I won’t come across any half beaten people while I’m here (and if I do because I just said that, God sure does have a sense of humor)…but I do know what I will come across.

People who have been left half dead by this world and need someone to stop, help patch up their scars and show them mercy.

I was thinking about Martha and her words all day. I was just like the priest and Levite, walking around those who are in desperate need to have the Gospel change their hearts.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is just another great example of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

He saw us, showed mercy when we needed it most, carried us (as He walked) and paid it all for us to be completely restored.

That same day I was trying to find a ride home. Ended up finding a ride with a man named, Joseph, who worked with a nonprofit called Light Evangelism Ministry.

I introduced myself and told him I work at Mother Blessings Orphanage Home.

He just looked at me and said,

“You’re different. You come live with the kids, walk around with the kids, you even ride in taxis with the kids. Yeah, you’re different.”

I had been so frustrated before because I didn’t have a car and my house was so far from where I was doing ministry.

But this was God’s plan all along. Because of course I am never too far from where I need to do ministry, because my ministry is all around me.

Joseph noticed that God was using me, even when I didn’t see it.

Luke 14:11

" For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

On my way to Mother Blessings everyday this week I pray that God will keep opening my eyes to the hurt that is all around me. I pray that I can be like the good Samaritan who not only felt compassion, but showed compassion. Yes, I have moved here for three months for the kids at the home. But that doesn’t mean that’s my only calling while I’m here.

Romans 12:21

 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

The only way we can help others to fight their battles against evil is to fight them with love. And to fight them with love, we must think and act like Jesus.

Because when the man first asked Jesus “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) He was trying to be deceitful..trying to cancel out the people he didn’t have to show mercy to.

But in the end of this parable Jesus turns the question around and says, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” (Luke 10:36)

The question isn’t, who is your neighbor…it’s, how can I be a neighbor?

I’m just a young, inexperienced girl trying to be a good helper.

             This has been the most challenging trip to Liberia so far.

Hearing the very unexpected news about the death of Marie, a few days after I arrived. Seeing that some boys were missing from the home, only to find out they just didn’t want to obey the rules, so they left. Seeing the schools end of semester grades, with most of the kids having incomplete assignments and exams. And to top it off, we’ve been having issues getting all the food to the home on time.

Phew! The devil sure is hitting me from every angle here, all at once.

Am I really helping? Or am I just complicating a very simple solution? Is there even a solution? How do I even begin to fix situations like these?

I’m just a young, inexperienced girl trying to be a good helper.

Paul writes to his young, inexperienced helper, Timothy;

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

1 Timothy 4:12

I’m not sure what Timothy was thinking when he read this part of the letter, but ANYONE makes me point straight to myself. I am my biggest critic. When I start thinking I’m too young, I start to believe it as well.

But let me tell you something about these doubtful thoughts, they are not from God. Not one of them! God wants you to believe that all things are possible through Him. (Phil 4:13) Not only to believe that it’s true- but to live in that truth.

The letter goes on to relieve Timothy a little of all the pressure saying;

“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholeheartedly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.”

1 Timothy 4:15

Praise Jesus! Hallelujah! PROGRESS!

Wait, progress? Did I read that right? God, didn’t Paul mean the finished product?

I hear God say,

“Molly, progress is what I look at, not perfection. Continue to give Me all of your heart daily and serve Me in everything you do. When you do this, people will know that your progress came from only My hand.”

Oh man, how sometimes the progress I make in the home seems so slow. Then God reminds me of all He has done and all He will do for these children. He not only has commanded people from all over to help them and pray for them, but He has promised them Eternity if only they believe. An Eternity with no hunger, no thirst, no tears, the sun not beating down on them (which sounds really great right about now), shelter and so much more.

God has taught me many things here recently, but the biggest and most important is to keep my eyes locked in on the Kingdom.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”

Revelation 22:12

To remember that I daily represent a God who loves the hated, forgives the unforgiven, strengthens with weak and heals the sick.

And even when things go wrong (and they always will), I will know that God is still working behind the scenes.

Paul ends the chapter by saying;

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

1 Timothy 4:16 

If my life shows Christ then I pray the kids of Mother Blessings will want their lives to show Him as well.

I know that one day when we talk about Marie, the room won’t be full of silence. I know that the boys (who have come back) will start obeying and incomplete exams will be replaced with straight A’s. I know that I will make mistakes, but I also know tomorrow is a brand new day.

And even though none of these problems will not be solved within a three month trip, the kids know I won’t give up on them. If hope is all this young, inexperienced helper can give them…that’s enough.

Seek the Kingdom

Today marks a week since I left for Liberia. I have to admit, it sure does feel like much more than only 7 days! 5,000 miles away always begins to feel like another world. A different life. I'm beginning to slowly weave the two worlds together, each trip making it easier.

Over the past 7 months, I have truly grown to love where I live and who I do life with everyday. During the last four trips when I would come back to America, I would just wish for the time to pass quickly so I could get back to Liberia, where I belong.

This time was different. This trip was different. I was excited, but in a whole new way. Ready to see my Liberian friends and family. Not ready to say goodbye to my American friends and family. God has put so many new godly relationships in my life that it's hard to say goodbye to those, if only for a few months. I know that I will continue to come and go whenever God asks and I know that it will never get any easier, probably only harder.

But I pray that time does not go as quickly this year. I want to soak up every moment as much as I can. Every laugh, every smile and every tear. Wherever I'm at, I hope that I experience everything as if I had chosen it myself. Every moment as if it's my last.

I will enjoy where I am; because where I am, is where God is. Right now. Here. In the present. So, I must live for today, everyday.

I will seek the Kingdom in every moment, for when I do that, I will find myself hopeful of what lies ahead. I will find peace and joy within my soul. I will be able to love so much that my heart will be like a swinging door; love coming in and love flowing out.

Because when you seek the Kingdom of daily, God will lead you to places you never dreamed of being, doing work you never imagined you could do.

...and when God send you 5,000 miles away because He has prepared you to teach the world about His Son's life, everything else that seems to be a big sacrifice, is really no sacrifice at all.

Matthew 6:33

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

"The weight of the world--The weight of glory"

I wonder sometimes why I come back to Liberia at all. If what people say about me being crazy, is really true. If I'm even making a difference at all. This trip has been one of the most difficult trips so far. I have endured sickness, pain, defeat and dissapointment. The children almost never listen to me, two of the girls got into a physical altercation and now I have malaria...again. I feel like I'm almost going in circles here. (aside from the malaria medicine that's making my head spin!) I sit here sometimes and think that I need Africa more than Africa needs me. Then I talk to a few individual kids and I realize that their hearts are changing and that we need each other. I have been brought here for a purpose and sometimes it might feel like I'm wasting my time of just wearing myself thin, but it will be worth it.

2 Cortinthians 16-17

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For the light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.”

The weight of the world feels like it's on my shoulders. Taking care of 70 children being only 20, still growing and learning myself. But Paul compares it to the weight of Glory when we get to Heaven. This is only temporary. This is only for a moment that we will need to endure this pain and suffering. In 2012 I wrote a blog about suffering. I have had malaria 3 times now, lost 3 family members in 2 months and have had random medical issues. I still don't believe that I am suffering. These kids are suffering.

I ask myself why I come back here and it's because when I see their faces I can feel their pain myself. I can feel the malaria, I can feel the hunger. Because I have experienced it for myself. When I see them hurting, I hurt. When I see them crying, I cry. When I go and find sponsors for them and they are smiling, I smile. When I come back from Red Light with their food for the month and they come to the car screaming, full of joy. I am full of joy too.

Don't get me wrong, I love these kids with all of my heart. I don't believe I would come back if I didn't. But sometimes I forget that they are still children. Children without parents. They haven't had the attention from individual people so that they will listen, do what they're told and grow in their faith. The kids ask me 24/7, while I'm here for anything and everything and I have told them that they can. I have made a prayer book. Before coming to me, they must go to God and pray. I have made myself available whenever they need me. I believe that's really what these kids need. Not food, not clothes, not medicine...but love. Someone to show them that they matter and that they're important in this world.

God has allowed me to keep coming back time and time again, and I will continue to come back. The little “suffering” I do in the few weeks I stay in Liberia, will not compare to the aftermath God has already planned for this compound and for each individual child. I pray that when this life is over I will see each and everyone of my children in Heaven with their crowns full of jewel because of the good works that they did here on this earth.  

"Kingdom of Heaven"

I could sit and listen to my kids sing all day long. Sunday church is always a good wake up call for me. In America, worship is usually very stiff. You're subject to one spot in your pew and you don't move. Here it is much much different. We had kids dancing, jumping and clapping all over the place. There wasn't a person in the room that didn't have a smile on their face. It makes my heart happy to see kids joining together to have church. The pastor didn't show up to church yesterday but Boakai decided to have church anyways.

Boakai taught on Matthew 25: 14-30, The Parable of the Talents. A parable that awakened a lot of the minds of these kids, and myself as well.

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and his his masters' money.” (Matthew 25:14-18)

I believe that this is a great example of a lot of our faith today. We get so caught up in knowing the bible front to back, that knowing the bible is all we really care about. Just hiding the words of the Bible with no action won't do anybody any good. Especially to those who are lost. To those who are hurting. Those who need to see Jesus in us. We have become so afraid. We have allowed ourselves to have little faith.

“Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'' (Matthew 25:19-21)

“He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” (Matthew 25:24-30)

Moses had asked why this parable was compared to the Kingdom of heaven. The floor was open for discussion, so I answered! Parables in the bible are all for teaching us lessons, for now and the future. When I get to heaven I want God to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I want this for all of my kids as well. I want them to use the gifts that God gives them wisely. To become disciples and to multiply what God has given them. I might not be the smartest person by the worlds standard or even by the church's standard. But I do believe I am being wise and productive with my God-given abilities to further the Kingdom. I may not know the Bible as well as most people, but I am being obedient and I am acting on my faith.

“God, I pray that these kids will be doers of the Word. That their actions with allow God's glory to shine. That they will go to bed every night knowing that they tried their hardest. I pray that everyone will know Mother Blessings home as a place where Jesus' name shines, when our names don't matter.”

"America in Liberia"

The van was quiet. All you could hear was the rain and the sound of 9 young boys praying to God for sunshine. Not knowing whether or not the rain would stop, but we had faith. We had faith God would make it a beautiful day for the boys! Not only did we want the rain to stop, we also wanted to show the boys that God does listen to the little prayers. To the little concerns that we have on a daily basis. God can move mountains, yes. But He also can move little rocks too.

We were sitting by the pool and I have never seen these boys not talking, yelling, screaming or dancing. They just sat there admiring “America in Liberia” (or that's at least what we call it!) They were amazed at how beautiful everything was and that they were about to enjoy it all for the whole day! We ordered our food and I told the boys that if they had to use the bathroom, then to just tell me and I'll show them where it is! Rufus was the first to speak up, so I showed him where to go! About 5 minutes later he comes back out and had to ask how to flush the toilet. This was the first time these boys had EVER used a toilet that flushed by itself. So of course, as soon as Rufus came out...every other boy rushed in to flush the toilets as well. It was hysterical! They all came back with a grin on their faces like they were very proud of themselves!

We ate pizza, french fries, wings and egg rolls. Yes, not a very good combination but we had to manage with the prices! It was the first time any of them had ever tried pizza! They were also drinking water out of a glass. (something you don't see Africans doing) They were chinking their glasses together like they were very proper!

We got in the pool and they had the time of their lives! At one point I just sat there in awe of their smiles and laughter. I enjoyed every single bit of the fun that they had and I am so grateful I got to experience it with them! God has allowed me the opportunity to do life with these kids. To love on them and to just spend time with them. I believe that was the best part about taking the kids to the pool. Spending time individually with each of them, which is so hard to do at the home with 70 kids! I got to see a side to some of them I had never seen before.

Every time they would do a new trick in the pool, or down the slide they would call my name and make sure I was watching. Just like I did to my mom when I was a little girl. I pray that I can always be here when they need someone to watch them do well and to praise them for it. I know how special these boys are and I want them to know it too! I want them to know that they are loved not only by Emma, Adina and myself..but by God the most. God answered the boys simple prayers. Imagine what else He could do?

Fasting..

Verses during fast:

1 Thessalonians 5:17

"pray without ceasing,'

Psalm 62:5

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him."

John 16:33

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Philippians 4:13

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Isaiah 41:13

"For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who says to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'"

AMEN.